Despite the positive effects of religious belief, recent government mandates and actions are increasingly antagonistic towards this role of faith in the public square. The Obama Administration persists in making divisive policies that ignore the importance of religious belief to American society, from arguing against religious hiring rights to limiting conscience protections to assaulting the religious liberty of Good Samaritans to work in accordance with their deeply held beliefs.

Policymakers and national leaders should recognize the profoundly important role of religious belief and practice for sustaining families, increasing well-being, and promoting a robust civil society. Protecting the freedom of individuals and organizations to live out their faith in public ways—not trampling religious liberty through coercive government dictates—can ensure that more people enjoy the benefits of religious practice.